What Makes a Basement Finished

In Toronto’s competitive housing market, a finished basement can significantly increase the value of your property and offer valuable additional living space. However, many homeowners don’t know what actually counts as a finished basement, and it’s not at all a place to store old boxes or a washer and dryer.

We’ll cover what exactly is considered a finished basement, how to evaluate yours, and what steps you can take if your basement isn’t up to code. We’ll also cover specific requirements relevant to Toronto and how professional basement renovation services can help.

So What Exactly Is a Finished Basement?

Some houses have basements that function as extra bedrooms or recreation rooms. Just because these basements are usable as a living space, it does not qualify them as finished.

A finished basement is an underground floor that has been renovated to the same standards as the upper floors of the house. It should function as a living extension of the home.

Features of a Finished Basement

1. Framed and insulated walls with drywall (no exposed concrete)
2. Ceiling with drywall or tile, no exposed beams or ductwork
3. Permitted electrical wiring and outlets
4. Permanent HVAC system (no portable units)
5. Fully finished flooring (tile, carpet, laminate – no bare concrete)
6. Proper lighting (recessed or ceiling mounted)
7. Plumbing fixtures (if applicable)
8. Interior stair access (not just exterior entrance)
9. Moisture and mold control measures

A basement that does not have any of the above is not considered fully finished. Often, owners have to resort to a basement underpinning service for this purpose if the ceilings are not high enough.

Types of Basements

How to Determine If a Basement Is Furnished

What constitutes a finished basement? Overall, you can easily tell whether a basement is finished or not just by looking at it. 

Here are some of the things to look out for to determine the state of your basement:

• Access to the basement 

For a basement to qualify as finished, it needs to have permanent interior stairs leading into it. Note that a basement is still unfinished if the only way to access it is through an exterior door.

• The heating and cooling system

Whether or not a basement has permanently installed heating and cooling systems determines if it is finished or not. Window AC units, swamp coolers, and wall units don’t qualify as HVAC systems because they’re not permanently installed.  

• How are the walls, ceiling, and floor?

The materials used on the walls and ceiling should match that used throughout the entire house.

The flooring also needs to match the type of floor used throughout the rest of the house. The most commonly used materials are tiles, laminate, wood, and carpet. Concrete floors in a basement mean that it’s unfinished.

• The state of the basement in comparison to the rest of the house

Overall, the basement needs to flow with the rest of the house. Is the basement damp? Is it overly hot or cold compared to the rest of the house? Does the rest of the house have wooden floors but the basement has plywood? These are sure signs that it’s unfinished. 

Also, as we’d mentioned earlier if the ceiling has exposed poles or beams and the walls are painted over concrete and there’s no drywall, then the basement is considered unfinished.

Considerations Specific to Toronto

In Toronto, finishing a basement requires compliance with the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and often a building permit. Basic requirements include:

1. Minimum ceiling height: 6’5″ (or 1.95 m)
2. Egress window or emergency exit for safety
3. Proper insulation to combat local climate
4. Support may be required to meet height requirements

Contact the Experts

If your basement doesn’t meet these criteria or you’re starting from scratch, CSG Renovation can help. We provide comprehensive basement finishing services across Toronto, including:

1. Design and layout planning
2. Permit assistance
3. Underpinning
4. Full construction and finishing

Want to find out if your basement qualifies as finished – or how much value a renovation could add? Contact CSG Renovation at +1 (647) 428-0007 for a free consultation in Toronto.